Putin lives! Here are the best/worst tweets on his return

Russian President Vladimir Putin is alive, and apparently well, reappearing in public Monday after a mysterious 10-day absence that sparked all sorts of rumors about everything from his health to his girlfriend’s possible pregnancy.

Putin met with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atanbayev in front of reporters and cameras at the Kremlin on Monday, resurfacing after an absence during which the Kremlin had to repeatedly deny he was in poor health.

“It would be boring without rumors,” Putin reportedly said when asked about his absence on Monday. He hadn’t been seen in public since a March 5 meeting with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

The rumors began after he canceled a planned trip to Kazakhstan, as well as a trip to sign a treaty with the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia. A Kazakh government source told Reuters that Putin canceled because he had “fallen ill.” Then photos and videos released by the Kremlin were discovered to be filmed or photographed at earlier dates.

Here are some of the best reactions, and worst puns, to his return:

And for good measure…

Brett LoGiurato is the senior national political correspondent at Fusion, where he covers all things 2016. He’ll give you everything you need to know about politics, with a healthy side of puns.